A Survey of Our Overseas Peacekeeping Personnel on Mission: China's Blue Helmets, a Major Power's Responsibility

China's Blue Helmets, a Major Power's Responsibility

— A Survey of Our Overseas Peacekeeping Personnel on Mission

■ PLA Daily Reporters Wang Min, Sun Qi

May 29 of this year marks the 24th International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers. In mission areas including Lebanon, South Sudan, and Abyei, Chinese peacekeeping soldiers have forged a shield of peace with the blood of their youth, and through concrete action have upheld the Global Security Initiative (全球安全倡议) and demonstrated the responsibility of a major power. They have earned high praise from the United Nations and local populations, erected monuments of peace in foreign lands, and inscribed the glory of Chinese soldiers into the cause of world peace.

Mission on Their Shoulders, Resolute and Unwavering——

A Peacekeeping Force Worthy of Admiration

The minefields near the "Blue Line" on the Lebanon-Israel border are a genuine battlefield of life and death.

In scorching heat, clad in protective gear weighing tens of jin, Hu Miaoqi — demining team leader of the multifunctional engineer detachment deployed to Lebanon — has long since had his uniform soaked through with sweat. Heavier than the gear itself is the psychological pressure of confronting unknown dangers. The terrain in the minefield is complex; beneath weeds and fallen leaves, unexploded ordnance may lurk anywhere. For a demining operator, every time he bends down to probe the ground is decidedly not a simple repetitive task, but a life-and-death trial in a contest with death itself.

Yet whenever a mission arrives, Hu Miaoqi always leads the charge into the minefield without hesitation. Having grown from a green recruit into a demining backbone, he has remained on the front lines of peacekeeping, never forgetting the trust of his homeland and always preserving his original peacekeeping conviction (维和初心).

In mid-January of this year, the 12th Infantry Battalion deployed to South Sudan (Juba) dispatched personnel who, together with UN military observers and civilian staff, traveled to the Tombek area to carry out a joint long-range patrol mission and provide armed escort for a UN staff safety investigation.

Tombek is located in the northern part of South Sudan's Central Equatorial State. The route requires passing through five armed checkpoints and more than 130 kilometers of communications dead zones, posing extremely high security risks. Shortly after departure, the convoy encountered a checkpoint. Two abandoned pickup trucks had been parked in the middle of the road as barriers, with more than ten armed personnel standing on either side holding weapons, making forceful demands to inspect the convoy; some of the armed individuals deliberately — or as if inadvertently — pointed their gun barrels toward the convoy.

"Convoy halt — establish defensive formation!" Mission commander Liu Keyi issued the order without hesitation. The convoy rapidly spread out, forming a layered defense; machine gunners on vehicle rooftops maintained close surveillance, and escort personnel quickly established a perimeter using the vehicles as cover. Liu Keyi then stepped out of the vehicle, authorization documents in hand, to negotiate. "Under the relevant regulations, United Nations vehicles have right of passage." The tone was calm, yet carried an unmistakable firmness. After a principled, forceful, and measured exchange, the other party ultimately allowed the convoy through. Similar scenes occurred multiple times along the route and were each resolved in turn.

"The outstanding performance of the Chinese infantry battalion is worthy of admiration!" At the conclusion of the mission, Ghanaian military observer Adom offered his heartfelt praise.

The mission of peace weighs heavier than a mountain. At critical moments, Chinese peacekeeping soldiers always step forward: when a civilian mission-area helicopter suffered a sudden malfunction, China's 6th Helicopter Detachment deployed to Abyei immediately shifted to full-time combat readiness, with four crews urgently filling the gap to ensure the aerial corridor remained open; to race against construction deadlines, officers and soldiers of the Chinese engineer detachment deployed to South Sudan (Wau) camped in the field — "dust-covered on clear days, mud-covered on rainy days" — ensuring the unobstructed flow of a critical supply route in the mission area; the "blue barrel" (蓝桶) base to be restored sat at the bottom of a valley, inaccessible to machinery and vehicles, so officers and soldiers of the Chinese construction engineer detachment deployed to Lebanon shouldered and hand-carried building materials and equipment, traversing steep, sandy safety corridors to reach the work site… "An indispensable force in the mission area," "a key factor in UN peacekeeping operations" — these repeated accolades speak to the high regard all parties hold for China's Blue Helmets.

Strong Capabilities, Protecting Lives——

A Peace Partner Worthy of Trust

An unstable situation, a harsh environment, and scarce medical resources constantly threaten the lives of peacekeeping personnel in the mission area. In times of peril, Chinese peacekeeping soldiers, drawing on their solid professional competence and resolute sense of responsibility, have built reliable safety barriers for allied peacekeeping forces.

"Thank you, Chinese military! Thank you, Chinese comrades!" On March 4, after stepping off the helicopter upon returning from a forward mission point, Tamid embraced pilot Wang Chen tightly.

Tamid is an officer in the Bangladeshi peacekeeping infantry battalion of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). He had studied in China and, after arriving in the mission area, had developed close ties with officers and soldiers of China's peacekeeping helicopter detachment deployed to Abyei due to the demands of their work, forging a deep friendship. Following a sudden deterioration in the security situation, UNISFA decided to urgently withdraw forces from two forward mission points, and the helicopter detachment was ordered to take on the evacuation and transfer mission.

With allied forces in danger, the longer they remained, the greater the risk. Neither mission point had lighting to support night flight operations. To gain more transfer time, Wang Chen coordinated with maintenance squadron comrades to prepare in advance, ensuring they could take off the moment dawn broke. Throughout the operation, Wang Chen and his comrades raced against the clock, fighting continuously, with every sortie and every leg of the route operating at full capacity, ultimately completing the transfer safely and efficiently. "Every time we saw the peacekeeping helicopter bearing the Five-Star Red Flag appear on the horizon, we saw hope." "You are peace partners worthy of our trust." … The praise from Bangladeshi allied forces was filled with gratitude and with the highest recognition of China's peacekeeping soldiers.

On January 15, Ernest, a Kenyan civilian aviation crew member with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), was urgently brought to the Chinese peacekeeping medical detachment. Ernest had developed symptoms including general fatigue and coughing a week earlier; his condition then deteriorated sharply over the following days, and by the time he was brought in, his difficulty breathing and feelings of chest tightness and suffocation had markedly worsened, and he was unable to move independently.

Examination revealed that the patient's complexion was cyanotic, his breathing was faint, his consciousness was clouded, and his blood oxygen saturation had dropped to 85%. He was diagnosed with severe pneumonia complicated by hypoxemia, hyponatremia, and multiple other complications. His life was in danger — there was not a moment to lose. The detachment immediately activated its critical emergency treatment protocol, key personnel assembled rapidly, and Deputy Detachment Commander Wen Feng took the lead in coordinating the overall treatment effort. Real-time monitoring of vital signs, precise medication, scientifically managed fluid replacement, scheduled oxygen therapy, psychological reassurance… For several consecutive days, medical personnel took turns on watch, using their superb medical skills and sense of responsibility to build a lifeline for the patient. After careful treatment, the patient's critical symptoms were relieved and his various functions steadily recovered; he ultimately pulled through. Before being discharged, Ernest expressed his thanks repeatedly: "It was the Chinese military doctors who gave me a second life. Thank you!"

Conveying Warmth, Kindling Hope——

Friendship Envoys Worthy of Lasting Memory

Not far from the UNISFA headquarters stands the humble Mumu Primary School. Apart from one mud-brick classroom, the remaining seven rooms are built from dry branches gathered on the spot. The school operates on a rotation system: when class is in session, the classroom is packed with students; those not in class wait outside.

On March 11, China's peacekeeping quick reaction force and helicopter detachment deployed to Abyei delivered school bags, footballs, and other cultural and sporting supplies to the school. The arrival of the officers and soldiers immediately brought the campus to life. Interpreter Yang Yuchi improvised as a Chinese-language teacher, teaching the children to read and write words such as "China" and "friendship." The sound of reading rang out, light and rhythmic, like a song of friendship floating on the air. When asked about their aspirations, one boy answered earnestly: "When I grow up, I want to put on a uniform and protect people who need help, just like the Chinese peacekeeping soldiers." Yang Yuchi recalled: "At that moment, his eyes were shining — the light of hope kindled, growing toward the sun."

To touch lives with one's own life, to illuminate the future with hope. While fulfilling all authorized missions, Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers across mission areas have also actively carried out humanitarian assistance activities, bringing tangible warmth to people who have suffered under war and poverty.

In educational assistance activities, officers and soldiers not only donated cultural and sporting supplies, but also leveled playgrounds and repaired desks and chairs, doing their utmost to improve the children's learning environment. At free medical clinics, military doctors examined residents, distributed medicine, and spread epidemic prevention knowledge, using their professional expertise to safeguard the people's health. When delivering water to residential areas, officers and soldiers played songs and taught children simple Chinese phrases — "delivering cool relief, and also sowing seeds of hope."

Sincerity earns genuine affection; effort wins respect. During patrols, local residents along the route often proactively greet Chinese peacekeeping officers and soldiers. Whether it is a resounding "China, friend" or a slightly halting "nǐ hǎo," it brings the peacekeeping soldiers a distinctive warmth. "You are friendship envoys worthy of lasting memory!" The words of Kodito, director of the Abyei civilian hospital, give voice to the shared sentiment of the people in the mission area.

Time Leaves Its Mark; Peace Is Priceless

■ Lü Desheng

There is a kind of mission that travels ten thousand li away, crossing mountains and seas, marching forth for peace. There is a kind of steadfast commitment forged in hot blood, boundless in its great love, honoring pledges through conviction. There is a group of officers and soldiers who, like the morning light spreading across many corners of the blue planet, sow vitality in turbulent lands and, with sincere and unwavering conviction (赤诚初心), write China's deep and abiding watch over world peace.

Since first participating in United Nations peacekeeping operations in 1990, successive waves of Chinese peacekeeping soldiers, moving to the rhythm of "China red, peace blue," have traversed the line between life and death with the blood of their youth, kindling the light of hope. Through their professionalism, tenacity, dedication, and sacrifice, they have demonstrated the responsibility of a responsible major power and earned widespread praise from the international community. China's Blue Helmets have become a vivid emblem of upholding world peace and advancing the building of a community with a shared future for mankind (人类命运共同体).

"The sky holds no trace of the wings' passage, but I have flown through it." When speaking of their peacekeeping experience, some soldiers cite this line from Tagore to encourage themselves. Yet how could successive waves of peace envoys from the East have left no trace of their own? Walking along newly repaired roads and bridges, treading on land cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance, using stationery donated to schools — how could local people not feel gratitude toward those Eastern faces wearing the Five-Star Red Flag armband? What China's Blue Helmets have shown them is not only the long-absent peace, but also hope for their lives and their happiness. As one peacekeeping force commander put it: every morning, as long as local residents see peacekeeping vehicles passing by their doors, they know that peace and security are at their side, and they find renewed confidence and courage to face life. Letting people who have endured the ravages of war know that a powerful force is nearby, guarding the peace — this is precisely the meaning of "I have flown through it."

Time leaves its mark; peace is priceless. The world needs peace just as people need air and all living things need sunlight. Through the changing of seasons, as figures come and go, the conviction of China's Blue Helmets in guarding peace has never wavered. With hot blood and a sense of responsibility, they have soothed the wounds left by war, caused barren land to bloom, and helped scattered families reclaim warmth. This protection that transcends national borders is silent yet priceless, enduring and far-reaching. Countless peacekeeping officers and soldiers, during their tours of duty, miss their families, the food, and the peaceful environment of their hometowns; but after returning home, they find themselves thinking of the blue sky, white clouds, and red earth of the mission area, and feeling concern for the simple, honest people and innocent children there. Liu Sen, who has carried out peacekeeping missions in South Sudan three times, often recalls squad leader Yang Shupeng and Li Lei, who gave their lives in the mission area. For him, this concern has become a knot in his heart: "I hope that place can achieve peace. Even if it is not during the time I am there, I hope that day comes soon."

Peace is the common aspiration of the peoples of all nations; development is the eternal theme of human society. At the September 3rd military parade held last year, the peacekeeping forces formation once again appeared in Tiananmen Square, passing in review in a powerful and majestic bearing. Viewed from a distance, the blue berets merged into a vast blue shield of peace, conveying to the world China's resolve to uphold world peace — peace is hard-won, and defending it demands every effort.

Salute, China's Blue Helmets!

Words from the Heart of Peacekeeping

Knowing full well that every step in a minefield is fraught with peril, why do we always press forward without hesitation? The answer is written on the land that has regained vitality after mines have been cleared, and etched in the smiles that have returned to the faces of local people. Clearing mines, healing wounds, turning barren and dangerous ground back into fertile fields and open roads — this is the sincere commitment of Chinese soldiers who guard peace with their lives.

— Hu Miaoqi, Demining Team Leader, 24th Multifunctional Engineer Detachment Deployed to Lebanon

Every time the battle eagle spreads its wings, it is a severe test of the crew's combat capability; every precise takeoff and landing lays a firmer foundation for the stable operation of the mission area; every emergency medical evacuation proves that China's Blue Helmets are peace partners that allied peacekeeping forces can trust.

— Wang Chen, Pilot, 6th Helicopter Detachment Deployed to Abyei

Though the needle is small, it bears the weight of life entrusted to it; though our steps are hurried, they measure the journey of peace. We are not on the front line where artillery fire rages, yet we hold the front line of protecting life. On the red earth of South Sudan, we soothe wounds with a healer's benevolence, fulfill our mission with a soldier's sense of responsibility, and with the sweat of our youth water the flowers of peace and friendship.

— Lin Li, Head Nurse, 16th Medical Detachment Deployed to South Sudan (Wau)

Through small, everyday actions, providing local people with concrete, tangible help — these ordinary small things allow them to feel the deep friendship of the Chinese people, powerfully consolidating the public foundation of friendship between the two countries, and letting the seeds of peace and friendship take root, grow, and bloom in the mission area.

— Lu Jinfang, Commander, 12th Infantry Battalion Deployed to South Sudan (Juba)

(Compiled by Wu Jiaqing and Zhang Liming)

The "Iron Triangle" That Lifts the Wings of the Blue Helmets

■ Wang Peng, Zhang Shuai

In Abyei, East Africa, sandstorms swirl and the clouds of war have not yet dispersed. The battle eagles of China's peacekeeping helicopter detachment take wing again and again into the rising sun, cruising along the watch line of peace.

"The battle eagles guard the peace; we guard the battle eagles." Within the maintenance squadron, three First-Class Sergeant Majors (一级军士长) — Zhou Jieqing, Wang Mingzheng, and Sun Honghong — are the "Iron Triangle" in the minds of their comrades, the ones who lift the iron wings of the Blue Helmets. Since deploying to the mission area, they have maintained a high sense of responsibility at all times, using their superb skills to build a solid safety barrier for mission flights.

"The aircraft has a life of its own; we must be the ones who understand it best." More than twenty years of shared military service have led them to uphold the same conviction: absolutely never let a battle eagle take off with a fault; absolutely never leave any hidden danger in the peace mission. The three have distinct but mutually complementary responsibilities: mechanical technician Zhou Jieqing, who has spent years working with engines, transmission systems, and mechanical structures, is the battle eagle's "guardian of sinew and bone," acutely sensitive to abnormal mechanical sounds and temperature changes; avionics technician Wang Mingzheng is the battle eagle's "neural regulator," precisely calibrating all parameters before takeoff and monitoring data feedback in real time during flight, providing precise and stable electronic control support for the aircraft; airborne mechanic Sun Honghong monitors the in-flight control status and equipment condition throughout, able to relay in-flight anomalies at the first moment and provide critical reference for precise ground troubleshooting.

During a pre-flight ground engine run before one mission, at the instant of engine shutdown, Zhou Jieqing keenly caught a faint metallic friction sound from within the engine compartment — the abnormal sound was brief, sharp, and highly irregular, unlike the normal mechanical settling sound of a routine shutdown. A hidden danger is an order! Zhou Jieqing immediately called a halt to the launch and reported the situation. Wang Mingzheng retrieved the complete parameter record from the engine run without delay, replaying the data curves second by second to precisely pinpoint the time node at which the abnormal sound appeared, and by comparing against baseline data from previous normal engine runs, inferred that the fault originated from mechanical jamming or foreign object ingestion, thereby defining a precise scope for the investigation. Sun Honghong, drawing on past in-flight operating experience, judged that if the aircraft took off with this hidden danger, it would very likely cause aggravated vibration and control lag; if the engine blades were damaged, it could even trigger an in-flight engine shutdown, directly endangering the aircraft and personnel. After joint deliberation, the three unanimously determined that the aircraft must be grounded and the hidden danger thoroughly investigated.

On an overseas peacekeeping battlefield, there are no temperature-controlled maintenance hangars, no precision disassembly equipment, and no external support. Yet the mission was at hand and time was pressing. On the flight line, with heat waves rolling and sand blowing in their faces, the three divided the work and cooperated, conducting a section-by-section investigation and component-by-component disassembly, ultimately finding a tiny metal fragment that had been ingested deep inside the compressor air intake. They then thoroughly cleaned the engine and conducted repeated calibration checks, ensuring the helicopter could carry out its mission on schedule.

In recent times, due to the volatile security situation in the mission area, the aerial transport, patrol and surveillance, reconnaissance and assessment, and emergency rescue flight missions undertaken by the detachment have surged sharply. With helicopters being sortied at high frequency and short intervals, the previous practice of conducting maintenance and servicing on a fixed weekly "maintenance day" has become very difficult to sustain. If any one helicopter develops a fault, the remaining helicopters must operate under overload, which can very easily trigger cascading problems. To address this, Zhou Jieqing proposed adopting a new model of "gap maintenance" (插空维护) — conducting maintenance during intervals between flights. Whenever a battle eagle lands, the maintenance crew immediately begins hidden-danger inspection and servicing. This approach increases the workload, but allows mission requirements and hidden-danger inspection to be balanced simultaneously, enabling the battle eagles to fly more steadily and farther.

Individual excellence is a breakthrough at a single point; team excellence is what achieves comprehensive victory. The three systematically summarized typical fault cases in high-temperature, sand-and-dust environments, took the lead in compiling a concise and practical field maintenance manual, and organized a complete set of combat-proven experience covering rotor manual assembly, engine field periodic inspection, equipment protection in sandy and dusty environments, noise and heat reduction under high-temperature conditions, and rapid air-ground coordinated troubleshooting. They also turned the flight line into a live-fire classroom, personally teaching apprentices hands-on. Wang Mingzheng teaches diagram reading, wiring, and troubleshooting; Zhou Jieqing passes on the techniques of listening for faults, feeling for temperature, and identifying vibration; Sun Honghong imparts the key points of in-flight monitoring, anomaly handling, and air-ground coordination. Under their patient instruction, more and more young officers and soldiers have been tested and grown into outstanding "guardians of the battle eagle."

Click the link to watch the documentary "Blue Helmets Without Borders"

Archival photographs provided by: Yang Shiwei, Miao Changhao, Wang Yi, Han Ruitian, Huang Hao, Li Gang, Qu Fatong

Layout design: Hu Yunyan